Automatic talking machine



Y J. GABEL. AUTOMATIC TALKING MACHINE. APPLICATION HLED MAR.15, 1917.

Patented May 2, 1922..

H\EET I.

GABEL. AUTOMATIC TALKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-15.191?- WM Ml .Zkver J. GABEL.

AUTOMATIC TALKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 15, 1911.

Patented May 2, 1922..

mm amq 8 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I. GABEL.

AUTOMATIC TALKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-15,19I7- Patented ay 2, 192

8 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

J. GABEL. AUTOMATIC TALKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 15', 1911.

Patented May 2, 19222 8 SHEETSSHEET 5.

212% 5 2 4 6 w w a n w -i H--- g M|||||||i ill.

J. GABEL.

AUTOMATIC TALKING MACHINE. APPLICATION mso MAR. 15, 1917.

1 GABEIL.

AUTOMATIC TALKING MACHINEu APPLICATION FILED MAR-15,1917.

Patented Ma 2, 1922.

JOHN GABEL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC TALKING- MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern: V t

Be it known that I, JOHN'GABEL, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook' and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Tmprovements in Automatic Talking Machmes,

of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to talking or sound reproducing machines and more particularly to machines in which mechanism is provided a for automatically changing the records and shifting the sound box or reproducer. The

- invention seeks to provide improved means for changing the records and shifting the in the features of improvement hereinafter set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure l is a front elevation of the improved machine. Fig. 1 is a detail view of parts shown in Fig. 1. F ig. 2 is a rear elevation. Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged rear elevations of portions of the mechanism with parts shown in changed positions. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the mechanism with parts shown in section on the lines 5-5 of Fig. 6, 7 and 8. Fig. 6 is an enlarged end elevation of portions of the mechanism, partsbeing shown in section on the lines 6-6 of Figs. 1,-

5, 7 and 8. F ig.-6' is a detail view of ar portion of Fig. 6 with the parts shown in changed position. F ig. 7 is a plan detail view with parts. shownin section on lines 7-7 of Figs2, 3, 5'and 6. 'Fig. 8 is a detail plan view of the record and sound-box shifter mechanism with parts of the frame shown in section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 1. Figs. 8 9 and 9 are detail views of parts shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail section.

most clearly shown in Fig." 6', is connected onlines 10-10 of Figs. 1 and 8. and 10 are detail views of portionsshotvhin F igs. 8 and 10 and illustrating infront elevation and in difierent positions, the 1 mechanism for-lifting the sound box ol -tof en- Specification of Letters Patent. Patented May 2, 1922 I Applicatioh filed Marclrli, 1917. Serial No. 154,950. V V

gagement with the record at the end of the reproduction of the record, the turn table and record being shown in central section. Fig. 10 is a rear elevation of parts shown in Figs. 10 and 10".

The preferred embodiment of the present invention is similar in construction to those set forth in prior Letters Patent of the United States, issued to me, No. 1,134,603

dated April 6, 1915, and N 0. 1,182,551 dated May 9, 1916, and in a companion application filed by me in the United States Patent Ofiice January 4, 1916, Serial No. 7 0,131.

The improved machine is mounted upon a frame work and is inclosed in a suitable casing. The casing is not shown but may be similar in construction to that illustrated in the above mentioned prior patents. frame work shown comprises upper and lower, substantially rectangular, cast metal frames 1 and 2 which are connected at their corners by vertical rods 3 and which are also connected intermediate their ends and at the front and .rear of the machine by vertical straps 4. A short cast metal frame 5 is fixed to the central portions of the front and rear straps 1 and supports the turn table and parts of the turn table operating mechanism. The mechanism whereby the changing of the records is effected is, for the most part, mounted upon the heavy lower cast metal frame 1. The entire frame work can be removably mounted within a suitable casing and preferably upon supporting lugs or brackets 6 (see Fig. 1 secured to the end walls of the casing.

The record support or turn table A (see tral portion of the frame work upon the upper end of a short vertical shaft a. The shaft .a is journalled immediately below the hub of the turn table in a bracket 7 and its lower conical end-is journalled in. an up- 95 to and carried, by the cast metal frame 5. The turn table is driven-by a small electric motor B mounted on a bracket 11 that is The Figs. 5 and 8) is mounted in the upper cen- 4 hand portion of the lower frame 1. Governor controlled friction gearing is interposed between the motor and the turn table to maintain the speed of the latter uniform. In the construction shown, the shaft a is provided with a spur gear 12 which meshes with a pinion 13 (see ig. .6) on the upper end of a short vertical shaft 14 which is journalled in the horizontal brackets 7 and 9. A friction disk 15 on the shaft-14 is provided with a lower horizontal working face which is arranged to engage a friction drive Wheel 16 on a short horizontal shaft 17. The latter shaft extends longitudinally in the machine frame and is journalled at its ends, as most clearly shown in Fig. 5, upon a pairof upright-brackets 18 and 19 which'are secured to and rise from the lower The friction disk 15 is provided with a long comparatively heavy hub 15 which is vertically slotted at its upper end (see Fig. 1) to receive a pin 14' extending through the shaft 14. The disk is thus connected to the shaft 14 to rotate it and the turn table through the medium of the gears 12 and 13, but the disk is free to shift vertically to a slight extent on the shaft '14 and is held by gravity into contact with the frictiondrivewheel 16, which is preferably covered with leather or other suitable friction material. The wheel 16 is mounted upon a short horizontal shaft 17 and the latter is journaled at its ends in brackets 18 and 19 that rise from the lower frame 1.

At one end the. shaft 17 is provi ed with a grooved pulley b which is conne ted by a belt 20 to a pulley b on the shaft of the electric motor B. The bracket 11 is preferably vertically slotted (see Fig. 1) and is adjustably connected to the frame 1 by screw bolts 21 so that the motor and motor shaft can be properly. ad usted to placethe desiredtension on the drive belt 20. The hub of the pulley b is fixed to the shaft 17, but

' the hub-of the friction. wheel'16 is slotted to receive akey 22 (see Fig. 7) so that while the'friction wheel rotates with the shaft. it can shift longitudinally thereon. The position of the friction wheel is determined by a fly-ball governor comprising ward the center of the friction disk 15 while the pull of the governor balls C on the arms 23 tends to move the wheel away from the center of the friction disk. The

latter is thus adjusted during the operation of the machine to compensate for any variations in the speed of the electric motor and thereby maintain the speed of the turn table uniform.

Preferably also, a governor brake is applied to the turn table. F or this purpose the gear 12 meshes with the pinion 25 on the upper end of the short vertical shaft 26 journalled in the brackets 7 and 9. VVeighted' spririg arms D are connected at their lower ends to a collar 27 fixed to the shaft and at their upper ends to a friction disk (Z slidably mounted on the shaft 26. This disk bears upon felt or like pads on the forked inner end of a brake arm or lever d. The latter is pivoted (see Fig. 6) on the frame 5 and an adjusting screw 28 engages its outer end. By adjusting the brake lever d the speed of the turn tablemaybe regulated as desired, but many given adjustment of the governor D, it cooperates with the drive wheel controlling governor Cto maintain the speed of the turn table uniform.

As in the constructions set .forth in the j as in the construction shown. in the copending application, one of themagazines E is designed to hold relatively large records 6 and the other magazine E is arranged to hold relatively small records 6'. Each'magazine comprises a frame having inwardly projecting pairs of fingers- 29 upon which the records are supported, the frame being mounted to slide upon a pair of guide rods 30 fixed at their upper and lower ends to. I

the frames 1 and 2 (see Figs. 1, 2 and 8). Anti-friction rollers 31 and 32 at the upper and lower ends of the magazine frames engage the outer and inner sides respectively of the guide rods 30. Cords 33 attached to each magazine extend upwardly and are fixed to grooved pulleys 34 that are journalled in uprights 35 on the ends of the top frame 2. Spiral cams 36 are fixed to or formed in piece with the grooved pulleys 34 and cords 37 fixed to the cams extend downwardly therefrom and are connected to the upper ends of a pair of heavy springs 38. The lower ends of these sprin s are connected to adjusting screws 39 w ich extend through the ends of the lower frame 1 and are provided with thumb nuts 40 (see Fig. 1). These springs partially counter-balance the weight ofthe magazines and records therein and, because of the spiral cams 36,

the springs exert a uniform pull upon the magazines in the different adjusted positions thereof.

The magazines are provided at their lower ends with inwardly projecting arms 41 which rest upon the outer ends of a pair of adjusting shift levers f. The latter are pivoted at their inner adjacent ends upon a lug 42 on the frame 1 and are provided, intermediate their ends, with bevelled abutments 43 which rest upon a pair of notched heart-shaped ranged to engage the central openings in in line withthe turn table.

the records in each magazine, the lower pins being fixed to the brackets 47 and the upper pins being removably mounted in parts 50 on the upper frame 2. Set screws 51 removably hold the upper 'pins in place. The adj acent,

pointed ends of each pair of pins are spaced apart so that the record in each magazine in line with the turn table can be shifted in horizontal direction.

A shifting slide or carriage G (see Figs. 2, 6' and 8) reciprocates upon a-pair of horizontal track bars 52 which are fixed to the vertical rods 3 and 4 at the front and rear of the frame. Lugs 53 on the carriage over-- lap the track bars and studs 54 extend be neath the same. The carriage is provided with curved portions or holders 9 and g, one of which is adapted to engage and nearly surround one of the large records 6 and the other engage and nearly surround one of the small records e as most clearly indicated in Fig. 8. The carriage is'of such length that oneof the holders thereof will engage a record in position on the turn table and the other holder engaging the record in one or the other of the magazines which is The rear central portion of the carriageG is provided with a depending lug 55 (see Figs. 2 and 6) which has a pivotal pin-andslot connection with the upper end of a shift lever H. the lower end of which is pivotally mounted on a depending lug 56 at the rear central portion of the lower frame 1. A link 57 pivotally connected at its inner end to the arm H is connected at its outer end by a pivot pin 58 to a swinging arm 59. The arm 59is preferably formed of cast metal 'and is of considerable width (see Fig. 7)

shaft 64. The latter is ournalled in the lug 42 and in a lug 65 on the frame 1 and at its tion.

forward end is provided with a gear 66 which meshes with a pinion 67 on the hub of a vertically disposed friction disk .68. The latter is loosely mounted upon a shaft 69 which is fixed to theupper end of the bracket 19 and projects forwardly therefrom. A spring 70 coiled about the outer end of the shaft extends between the hub of the friction disk and an adjusting nut 71, and this spring serves to hold the friction disk 68 into engagemenhwith a friction drive wheel 7 2 which is fixed to the shaft 17. The shaft h is thus driven from the motor B and countershaft 17 to reciprocate the carriage G and thereby move the records between the magazines and the turn table. The arm It is also with a tooth 73 (see Fig. 5) which cooperates with the teeth of the ratchet wheels 45 .to rotate the shaft 44 and heart-shaped cams F and thereby raise and lower the magazines step by-step.

Means is provided for throwing the record shifting mechanism into and out of operation and preferably also, means is provided for arresting the turn table or record support during the operation of the shifter mechanism. For this purpose, a short horizontal shaft 74 (see Figs. 5, 6 and 7) is journalled on the bracket 9 and is provided with arms J and J which, as the shaft 74 is oscillated, are arranged to alternately engage the friction disks 15 and 68 and shift provided on its outer end the same. into and out of engagement with the friction drive wheels 16 and 72. Normally, these parts are in the position shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 in which a leather or felt pad on the end of the arm J engages the disk 68 to hold it away from the drive wheel 72 and thus maintain the record shifter mechanism idle. At the end of the reproduction of the record the shaft 74 is shifted, as hereinafter described, to move the arm J away'from the disk 68 and lift the disk 15 by means of the arm J out of engagement with the drive wheel 16. The rotation of the turn table is thus arrested and the spring 70 forces the disk 68 into engagement with the drive wheel 72 to thereby throw the .record shifter mechanism into operation.

This shifted position of the controlling arms "J and J is shown in Fig. 6. As herein-' after described, the shifter mechanism is maintained in operation until the main op-,

erating shaft It has completed a half revolu- The controlling arms J and J are then returned to normal position to stopthe shifter mechanism and throw the turn table into operation to reproduce the record thereon:

As shown I in the drawings, the record shifting carriage G is at one side of the machine with one of the. small records e withdrawn from the magazine E and in position on the turn table with all of the large records 6 in position in the magazine E. At

.each operation of the shifter mechanism, the shaft h and crank arm h are rotated through a half revolution to shift the parts 61, 59 and 57 and thereby move the shift lever H and carriage G to the other side of the machine. moved from the magazine e, into playing position on the turn table and, at the same time, the record 6' on the turn table is moved back into position in the magazine E. At the next operation, the carriage is shifted back in the opposite direction to restore the record e to the magazine E and move one of the records 6 from the magazine E onto the turn table.

It will be noted that when the shifter mechanism is at rest, a record is withdrawn from one of the magazines. To permit the vertical shift of -the other or full magazine, the shafts 44 extend to the front of the machine and are provided with knobs or the like so that the user can adjustthese shafts to thereby raise and lower the magazines and bring the desired record into line with the turn table. Means must be provided for preventing the vertical shift 'of the magazine from which a record has been withdrawn.

For this purpose the cams F and ratchet wheels 45 are loose on the shafts 44 and are connected thereto a by spring-held clutch members 75 (see Figs. 5 and 7). These clutch members are operatively connected to the outer ends of a pair of levers 76 which are pivoted intermediate their ends upon the frame 1 and the inner ends of which engage with a rib or flange 77 on the rear face of the gear 62. At one point this flange or rib is provided with a notch 78, and, at' the ends of the half revolutions of the shaft in and gear 62 thereon, one of the levers 76 will enter the notch and engage its clutch to connectthe corresponding shaft 44 with the shifter and cam F of the full magazine, but the clutch of the other magazine, from which a record has been withdrawn, will be held in disengaged position. The user of the machine may thus shift one or the other of the magazines to select the next record to be played. As already noted, the dog or pawl 73 on the arm h cooperates alternately with the ratchet wheels 45 to rotate the same one step at a time at thesuccessive half revolutions of the shaft 72. so that if no selections are made by the user, the record shifting imechanism will operate automatically to place the. records in'the machine in succession on'the turn table.

The recordon the turn table is held in central position thereon by a. pointed pin K (see Figs. 5apd 8) mounted on the forward end of a horizontal arm is and adapted to extend downwardly through the'fcentral opening of the record into a-socket in the turn table. The arm k is fixed at its 'rear Oneof the records E is thus.

end to a vertical rod (see- Fig. 9) which reciprocates'through upper and lower gulde lugs 79 and 80 at the back of the machine.

The lower end of the rod is which is pref 'erably provided with a roller, enga es a spiral cam 81 on the rear end of a shat 82. This shaft is journalled'in the lug 56 at its rear end and, at its forward end,'in'a lug 83 (see Fig. 6) both of which lugs depend'from the frame 1. The inner end of the shaft 82 is provided witha gear 84 which is half the size of. and meshes with the gear 62, so that shaft 82 makesa complete revolution while the shaft h is making a'half revolution at each operation of the machine. When the record shifter mechanism is started, shaft h and ,cam 81 are rotated in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2 and the cam quickly lifts rod is, arm is and pin K to release the record on the turn table. At the end of the shifting movement of the carriage G, the cam 81 lowers the rod is and brings the pin K into engagement with the next record on the turn table. It should be noted that the initial movement of the shaft h and arm 11. at first takes up the lost motion between the link 61 and the arm 59 so that the recordcentering pin K is lifted before the carriage G commences its'movement. It should also be noted that the arrangement of the arm h and link 61 is such that the shift of the-carriage G is completed before the arm H finishes its half revolution. link 61 after the throw of the carriage G is completed moves the link relatively to the pin 58 so that the carriage can be moved backward to a slight extent, out of contact with the record on the turn table.

To effect this backward movement of the This continued movement of the record shifting slide or carriage, the latter is provided at its .rear edge, with lugs 85 having-upwardly facing V-shaped notches 86 therein (see Figs. 8 and 8 The arm is which carries the center pin K is provided at its rear end with a downwardlyv projecting pointed or V-shaped cam lug 87 which is arranged to cooperate with the notches 86 of the lugs 85 on the record slide or shifter. At the end of the movement of the carriage or record shifter in one or the other direction, the crank arm h and link 61 move pasta straight line position so that the end of the slot 60 in the link moves awa from the pin 58. The shift of the carriage is completed before the cam 81 lowers the rod 70" and arm is. When this occurs, the cam lug 87 engages one of the notched lu $85 on the 'carria esor slide and moves it acki wardly to a s ight extent out of engagement with the record on, the turn table so thatit does not contact therewith during the reroductionof the record. As indicated in ig. 8 the record engaging portions g and g of the record shifter are slightly larger .of the carriage G which. pass over these lugs are cut away as indicated at 90 to clear the same. As the records of either size vary.

slightly in diameter, the pin K and pins 48 and 49 are provided with pointed ends so that they will properly engage the holes in the records and center the same on the turn table and in the magazines, and eachmagazine frame is provided with twovertical stop springs 91 (see Fig. 8) for determining the position of the records in the magazines.

Tn moving the records over the turn table,

the carriage G contacts with the upper, felt covered surface of the turn table to prevent raising the right-hand end of the carriage slightly and thus move the holder g out ofthe thin records from wedging between these parts, and the turn table itself to properly operate the large records 6, must be larger than holder g of the carriageand only slightly smaller in diameter than the large records. For these reasons, when the carriage is at the left-hand side ofthe machine, with a small record on the turn table, as shown in Fig. 8, means are provided for contact with the turn table, while the small record e thereon is being reproduced. This means comprisesa push rod 92 (see Figs. 5, 7 and 8) which extends through a guide opening 93 in one of the cross bars of the -frame 5 (.see Fig. 5) and the lower end of which is connected to one arm 94c of a bell crank lever. This bell crank lever is 'pivotally mounted on the bracket 19 and the other arm 951s arranged to be engaged by a stud 96 (see Figs. 6 and 7) on the end of the crank .arm it. As already. noted, the

arm h has an. additional movement after the shift of the carria e G is completed,

and when it has moved t e carriage to place i a small record on the turn table, this additional movement of the arm it brings it into- I engagement with the arm 95 of the bell crank lever, lifts the ush rod 92 'so that its upper end engages t ecentral portion .of

- the carriage as shown in Figs. 5 and 6,

and slightly lifts and maintains the holder g out of contact with the turn table during the reproduction of the small record thereon. This lift of the right-hand end of the carriage is permitted by providing notches 97 (see Figs. 1, 2 and 3) in the lower edges of the carriage guide rails 52,

n the notches being. located at proper points to receive the studs 54 which project from table.

shown in Fig. 5, the push rod 92 is lowered by gravity outof the pathof the movement ofthe carriage or slide G and it is not 7 0 raised to lift the right-hand endof the carriage or slide until the latter is again operated bythe shifter mechanism to move a small record and the holder 9 over the turn I As in the construction set forth in the prior patent and application referred to, the sound box or reproducer L is mounted upon the forward end of a hollow arm L which is connected to a suitable amplifying device. An upturned elbow at the rear end of the arm is provided. on its under side with a lug 98 (see Figs. 3 and 10) having an opening 99 therein through which extends a guide rod 100. Thehorizontal guide rod 100 is remov- 35 ably fixed to .a pair of lugs on the upper portion of a cast metal frame 101 which is secured to the upper rear portion of the mahaving upturned ears 10 1 therebn engaging the guide rod '100. The ears 104 snugly lit the guide rod, but the opening 99 is larger than the rod so that the sound box arm may 95 vibrate horizontally on the pivot 102 to a. v 1 limited extent and the needle of the sound box can properly follow the groove ofthe record. Two stop lugs" are formed on'the rear portion of the yoke103 on} opposite sides of 1 the vertical axis of the sound bpx arm and cooperate with the rear face of the lug 98 to limit the lateral swinging movement of the arm relative to the yoke. Both the yoke and the sound box arm are free to swing 105 vertically upon the horizontal guide rod 100.

,A horizontal feed screw 106 is rotatably mounted on the bracket 101 and is connected by a pair of beveled pinions 107 to the upper end of a short vertical shaft 108 also jour- 110 nalled in the bra ket The lower end of this shaft is connected by. a pair of bevelled pinions 109 to the rear end of a horizontal shaft 110.- This shaft isinclined in position as shown; its rear end is journalled in the ,1

bracket 101 and its forward end in the lug 8 (see Fig. 5) and a bevelled gear 111 on its forward end meshes with a. bevelledpinion 112 fixed to the turn table shaft on. The feed screw 106 is thus rotated during the repro- 1 duction of the records audit acts to advance j the sound box over the record through the medium of a segment. nut 113 connected to the yoke 103. In the construction shown (see Fig. 10) the segment nut is formed upon the 125 forward end of a lever or arm 114 which is pivoted to a lug 115 on the yoke and the rear end of which is connected by a spring 116 to a stud 117 projectin from the rear end of the sound box arm The nut is .130

thusyieldingly held in engagement with the feed screw during the reproduction of the record. When the sound box is lifted and moved backwardly along the guiderod 100 to commence a record, the sound box arm and yoke 103 swing together about'the guide rod 100 and a lug 118 on the yoke engages the rear end of the .arm 114 and lifts the segment nut 113 on the forward end thereof out of engagement with the feed screw. l

To raise the sound box out of engagement 7 4 with the record, a bar M extends beneath the sound box arm and cooperates with a shoe m which is pivoted between its ends to a lug 119 on the lower side of the sound box arm L.

The inner end of the bar M is pivoted to the arm k and its outer end is pivoted to an L shaped bracket 120 which is connected to and depends from the top frame 2.- During the reproduction of the record,-the bar M occupies a-horizontal position, below and out of contact with the shoe m, but, when the arm Y is and centering pin K are lifted, as described, at the beginning of the record ,7 changing operation, the inner end of the track bar is elevated toraise the sound box arm and parts connected thereto} This movement also tilts the yoke 103 and disenages the nut 113 from the be sound box and sound b x armmre then moved olitwardly'over the cord, the movement of these parts being uided by the rod 100 and the track bar M zontal position on the bracket 101. The free The return shift of the sound box arm is efiected by a lever N (see Figs. 2, 3 and 4) pivoted at its lower end to a lug on the cast- .ing 101 and having an enlarged upper end .arranged to engage the lug 115 on the yoke 103. i The arm N is operated f'rom'the vertical shift rod is through the medium 'of a yielding connection comprising a spring 121 connected at its upper end to a rearwardly projectin stud 122 on the rodlc and at its :lower en to a crank arm n. The arms N and n-iare loosely mounted upon the same pivot pin 123 andthe arm n is arranged to cooperate with a lug 124 on the lower pivoted end of the arm N. The shift-of the return 50 arm' or lever M is controlled by an arm or lever N.which is pivotally mounted in horiend of this lever is provided with a forwardly projecting lug 125 which is arranged to coopscrew 106.

in Figs. 2 and 4.. The upper end of the latch is arranged in the path of movement of a lug 130 on the yoke 103 and is adapted to be tripped thereby at the end of the reproduction of a record.

The arm N is provided with a depending portion or lug 131 which is arranged to enage a pin 132 on a horizontal arm 133. %)ne end of the latter extends through the slot 134 in the guide lug 135 on the face of the bracket 101. The other end of the arm 133 is loosely pivoted to one arm of a bell crank 136. This bell crank is pivoted in horizontal position to a rearwardly projecting lug 137 on the bracket 101 and is con nected (see Figs. 6 and 7) by a link 138 to an arm 139 on the shaft 74. The arm 133 is connected to the trip lever N by a spring stop -pin 132 thereon against the bar 131.

In this position of the parts, the friction disk controlling levers J and J are held in the position shown in Fig. 6 so that the turn table and sound box feeding means actuated by the disk 15 are in operation and the shifter mechanism, actuated by the disk 68, is held out of operation.

As the sound boxand sound box arm are fed inwardly from the position shown in Fig. 2, the lug 126 on the return lever N passes beneath the lug 125 on the control lever N, At the end of the reproduction of a record, the lug 130 on the yoke 103 engages and trips the latch n to release the controlling arm or lever N. The latter is then drawn down by the spring 127 until arrested by the'engagement of itsfree end with a spring stop 141. The parts are then in the position shown in full lines in Fig.

3. The shift of the controlling lever N and the lug 131 thereon'shifts the arm 133 laterally and, through the mediumof the bell crank 136, draws the link 138 rearwardly and thereby shifts the controlling levers J and J from ,the position shown in Fig. 6 to that shown in Fig. 6 This shift occurs against the tension of the spring140 which, as stated, tends to hold the controlling levers J and J in normal position. But

when the control lever N drops from the position shown in Fig. 2'to that shown. in full linesi'n Fig. 3, the tension of the spring 140 is somewhat reduced and the shift of the controlling lever is effected as described,

by the'spring 127. The operation of the turn table and the "sound box feed is thus interrupted and the shaft l2, driven from the friction disk68, is thrown into operation to change the records and return the sound box to commence the next record.

I The operation of shaft 71, rotates the cam 81, as described, through the'medium of the gears 62 and 84: so that the rod 70 is lifted to raise the record centering pin K, sound movement of the rod is also places the actuating spring 121 of the return lever N under tension, but before sufiicient tension is placed thereon to operate the return lever, the lug 122 on the rod engages a lug 142 on the controlling arm 1 and moves the lug 125 on the latter, into the path of movement of the lug 126 on the return lever N. The latter is thus held in the position shown in Fig. 3 until the controlling lever N is raised to the position shown in dotted lines in this figure. 'lhe spring 121 which has been placed under tension by the upward movement of the rod. k, then acts on the lever N to move the yoke 103 back over the guide rod 100 and thus shift the sound box arm and sound box outwardly over/the record on the turn table. \At the end of the upward shift of the controlling arm 1. the lug 129 thereon engages .a lug 143 on the latch 11. and shifts the latter back locking' position shown in Fig. 4. During the operations described, the carriage G \has been operated by the crank arm it and the intermediate connect-ions, to move the record on they turn table back to, its position in the magazine and move the next record from the other magazine on to the turn table.

When the rod in and control lever N are lifted by the cam 81 as described, the lug 131 is moved away from the pin 132 on the bar 133 so that the latter is relieved of the tension of the spring 127. At the same time,

the spring 140 is placed under tension andit is so positioned that it tends to liftthe bar 133 and move it back toward the lug 135. But when the bar is thus lifted to the dotted position shown in Fig. 3, a shoulder 144 on the bar 133 engages the end of the slot 134 in the lug 135 and the bar 133 then serves as a lock or latch to hold the friction disk controllingarms J and J in the position shown in Fig. 6 with the shifter mechanism in operation. At the end of the upward movement of the rod k, the controlling ann N is re-engaged with the latch n, as described. When the roller on the end of the rod passes over. the'high point of the cam 81, it drops on to a shoulder145 on thecam and momentarily arrests the descent of the rod. On this descent of the rod, the pin or lug 122 thereon engages the upper edge of the latch bar 133 and shifts it from the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 to that shownin full lines in Fig. 4. That is to say, the shoulder 144 of the bar 133 is moved out of engagement with the lug 135 and a second. shoulder 146 thereonis moved into engagement therewith, it being understood that the. spring 140 tends to shift the bar 133 laterally toward the slotted guide lug 135. In this position of the arm 133, the

friction disk controlling levers J and J are,

- held in a position intermediate those shown in Figs. 6 and 6 and both the friction disks 15 and '68are in operation. The rotation of the turn table is thus started before the cam.

81- is fully restored to the normal position shown in Fig. 2 and while the shifter rod 7? still rests on the shoulder 145. At this time,

while all other portions of the shifting opnot engage the latter until the lower end of the rod is passes over the shoulder 145 eration are completed, the sound box is still I held out of contact with the record and does of the cam and drops on to a shoulder 148.

thereof. The turn table and the record thus commence to rotate and acquire momentum before the record is engaged by the sound box and thus the engagement, of the sound box with the record will not prevent the proper rotation of the record.

When the lower end of the rod k drops on to the shoulder 148 of the cam 81, pin 1% further depresses the arm 133 from the position shown in Fig. 4 and disengages its shoulder 146 from the lug 135. Spring 140 then moves the arm back to the normal position shown in Fig. 2, with the pin 132 engaging the lower end of the lug 131. In this position, as already stated. the friction disk controlling arms J and J are in the position shown in Fig. 6 so that the friction disk 68 is moved out of engagement with the drive wheel 72 to thereby arrest the operation of the shifter mechanism. It should be noted that the cam 81 and rod 70' operated thereby, serve to throw the shifter mechanism out of operation after a single revolution of the cam and since thelatter is connected to the main operated shaft it of the shifter mechanism by gears 62 and 84, this shaft rotates through. a half revolution as described, at each operation. Inasmuch as the latch n is tripped at the. end of the reproduction of each record, it is obvious that the machine will continue in operation to play the records in the machine as long as the motor B is running. A suitable switch (not shown) in the circuit of the motor is provided for starting and stopping the machine. A rod 149 (seeFigs. 2 and 3) sliding horizontally in guide lugs 150 is provided at its inner'end with a cam nose or finger 149'. and is normally held in retracted position by a spring 150. A crank arm' 151 having a pin-and-s'lot connect-ion .with the rod is fixed to a rock shaft 152. By shifting the rod inwardly the cam finger 149 thereon is arranged to engage the rear end of the segment nut lever 114 to disengage the latter from the screw 106 so that the latter engages a lug 103' on the yoke 103 see Fig. 10) and swings the yoke and arm L to slightly raise the sound box L. lhe'continued inward movement of the rod 149' will quickly shift the yoke and parts connected thereto inwardly to the position shown in Fig. 3 to its mechanism in operation. I 152 extends to the exterior of the machine casing and can be manually operated by the thereby trip the latch n and set the shifter The rock shaft user if desired, to throw the record and sound box shifter mechanism into operation before the reproduction of the record on the turntable is completed.

The outward or,return shift of the sound .box and sound box arm must be arrested at different distances from the center of the turn table. For this purpose, a stop member P having two stop arms p and 12' (see .Figs. 3, 8 and 10) is connected by horizontal pivot pins 153 to the bracket 120 and to one of the rear bars 1. A spring 154; tends to hold this stop device in the position shown in the drawings, with a stop lug 155 on the stop arm 2 against the edge of the supporting bar 4 (see Fig, 8) In this position, the stop arms cooperate with the yoke 103 and sound box L to arrest the return movement of these parts with the sound box in proper position to engage and commence a reproduction of the small record 6. The stop device P is also provided with a depending lug 156 (see Figs. 2, 3 and 8) which is arranged in the path of movement of the lug 157 on the upper rear portion of the carriage G. When the carriage is shifted from the position shown in the drawings to the other end of its movement, to place a large record on the turn table, the lug 157 engages the lug 156 on the stop member 1? and swings the stop arms p and p downwardly out of" the path of movement of the yoke 103 and sound box. -The return movement of these parts is then arrested by fixed stops comprising one of the lugs 158 in which the rod 100 is mounted, and the bracket 120. Prefand the bracket 120 are provided with leather pads.- This return shift of the sound box and sound box arm to difi'erent points is permitted because this movement is effected by the yielding spring connection 121 between the rod 70' and the armcn.

- The sound box is provided withsneedle changing mechanism similar to that set forth in Patent No. 1,182,551 above referred to. For this purpose the sound box has a projecting finger 159, which, as the sound box is lifted, is adapted to pass through a cam slot 160 in a cam plate 161 that depends from the top frame 2. Ordinarily, there are two needles, one above the other in'" the needle holder 162 ofthe sound box, the lower one being firmly secured' in position by a spring-heldclamp 168. As the sound box is raised, the spring-held clamp and a pivoted spring-held ejector 164 are successively engaged by a pair oflugs 165 and 166 on the cam plate 161'to thereby eject the lower used needle andmove the uppernew needle into the grip of the clamp 163. At the same tor- time, a needle is ejected from a suitable needle magazine 167 (see Figs. 1 and 10) by 'mean of a spring-held actuating dog 168 which is mounted upon the vertically shifting, horizontal arm is. As fully set forth in the prior patent referred to, the needle from the magazine passes through a guide tube 169 on the sound box and rests upon the needle clamped in. the needle holder 162.

In 'thepresent construction improved means are provided foraccumulating the used needles so that they will not drop down into and prevent the operation of the mechanism. For this purpose, a cup 170 (see.

Figs. 8, 9 and 9) having a movable bottom portion 171 is mounted on the lower end of the fixed cam plate 161. Both the 'cup170 and the bottom portion 171 are pivotally mounted on the same vertical pivot pin'172 that is fixed "to the cam plateand the bottom piece 171, which is formed with sheet metal, 'is provided with an integral bent ear 173 extending'over the pivot end of the cup and also engaging the pivot pin 172. Light' and its bottom plate and swings them to one side as shown in Fig. 9'. When the sound box is lifted to release and discharge the used needle and supply a new needle, the cup 170 and bottom plate 171 swing back beneath the sound box and catch the used needle as it is discharged from the holder 162 thereof.

The cup bottom plate 171 is provided with I a forwardly projecting port-ion 179 which is arranged in the path of a lug 180 on the central portion of the carriage G (see Figs:

6 and 8). The central portion of the carriage is also provided with a needle receiving cup or depression 181 which is normally closed -by a bottom plate 182 having upwardl projecting ears, at one end which are pivote ears on the carriage by a pivot pin 183. A spring 18 1 surrounding the pivot pin engages the upper face of the carriage and an upwardly projecting lug-185 on the rear end of the plate 182 and holds the latter. in the normal closed position. shown in Fig. 6. The lug 185 is arranged to be engaged by a cam lug 186 formed upon the horizontal fportion of the L-shaped bracket 120 (see Fig. 8). Beneath this cam lug is arranged a large receptacle 187 for used needles having a flange 188 at its upper edge overlapping the central end portion of the frame 5. This receptacle is removably held in position by a pin 189 on the frame extending through a perforation in the flange 188.

Whenever a needle is'discharged from the needle holder of the sound box, it drops as described, into the cup 17 0 being retained thereon by the removable bottom plate 171. The carriage G is, as stated, at each operation of the machine, shifted from one side to the other. When moved in either one or the other direction, the lug 180 on the carriage engages the tail portion 179 of they from the position shown in Fig. 8 to the opposite side of the machine, another needle .is discharged from the cup 170 into the cup 181. At the end of this'movement, the cam lug 186 strikes the upwardly projecting lug 185 on the plate 182 and tilts the latter downwardly about the pivot 183 so that the two needles thereon are discharged into the large receptacle 187.

At each operation of the machine, the feed screw operates to move the sound box inwardly until the pin 159 thereon is positioned inwardly beneath the lower open end of the cam slot 160 (see Fig. 5) and against a stop 190, thus limiting the inward movement of the sound box. The latter is then in proper position to effect the needle changing operation and must be movedinwardly toward the center of the record to such position at each operation of the machine. But the grooves of different records terminate atv different distances from" the centers of the record and of the turn table. To obviate disagreeable noises, means are provided for lifting the sound box to a slight extent, to disengage the needle of the sound box from the record at the end of the record groove; such means being so arranged that it does not interfere with the complete inwardly shift of the sound box into proper relation with the needle changing mechanism.

For this purpose, the shoe m is pivoted, as described, to the lug 119 on the sound box arm L and is connected by a spring 191 to a lug 192 on the arm. A latch 193, also pivoted on the lug 192 and yieldingly held in place by a spring 194, is arranged to engage the shouldered end of the pivot shoe m and hold the latter in the position shown in Fig. 10 with the spring under tension. A trip 195 is pivoted at 196 to a slide 197. A pin and slot connection 198 determines the extent of oscillating movement of the trip 195. The latter'is provided with a bevelled end and a series of ratchet teeth on its lower edge which cooperate with a lug 199 on the lower end and on the face of the latch 193. The slide 197 is held in position by a series of guide lugs 200 on a part 201 so that it is free to reciprocate in horizontal position. The part or bracket 201 is secured to or rear formed in piece with the arm k. A curved weighted arm 202 pivotally mounted upon the upper endof a lug 203 on the part 201 is arran ed to enga e a pin 204 on the side of the side 197. n the rear face of the slide and adjacent its outer end'is pivoted a two-armed equalizing member 205. A rearwardly projecting stop lug 206 (see Figs. 8

and 10) on the end of the slide 197 normally holds the equalizing member 205 in the position shown in Fig. 10 and such that, as

the sound box is moved inwardly in repro ducing the record, the ends of the equalizin device will engage with two flat faces207 and-208 formed respectively on the sideof the sound box arm L and on the forward end of an arm 209. The latter is fixed to and extends forwardly .from the yoke 103.

When the sound box commences a record, the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 10 with the latch engaging the shoe'm and holding it in the position shown, with the spring 191 under tension andthe shoe out of contact with the track bar M. As the sound box arm and arm 209 move inwardly, the lug 199 engages the beveled end of the pivotedtrip 195, lifts it and passes beneath the same into enga ement with one of the teeth v 103 travels in conformity with the pitchof the feed screw 106. The sound box arm, however, is free 'to shift laterally relatively to the yoke as described, to follow the groove of the record which nay vary in pitch and differ from the pitch of the feed screw. Usually the screw is'so designed that it will feed the yoke somewhat slower than the sound box is fed by the groove of the record. But even though the sound box arm moves faster than the arm 209 so that the lug 199 on the latch 193 moves farther and farther in beneath the trip 195, the ends of the equalizer 205 will be maintained in contact with the fiat faces 207 and 208 on these arms. When the sound box needle reaches the inner end of the record groove, the movement of thesound box and its arm L are no longer propelled thereby and are momentarily arrested. But the movement of the arm 209 is continued by the feed screw 106, and

the pressure of thisarm against the lower end of the equalizer lever 205 shifts the slide 197 inwardly, the point of contact of the equalizer lever with the face 207 of the then stationary sound box arm acting as a fulcrum. Thisinward shift of the slide and trip 195 releases the latch 193 so that the inner end of the shoe is drawn upwardly by the spring 191 and the outer end is forced downwardly into engagement with the upper edge of the trackbar M as shown in Fig. 10 This movement raises the sound box slightly to move its stylus out of contact with the record. The inward shift of the sound box is again resumed when the slight lateral play between the sound box arm L and the yoke 108 is taken up and this movement is continued by the screw 106 until the lug 130 trips latch a as described, and throws the shifter mechanism into the 0-peration. At the end of this forward movement of the sound box, the arm 159 on the sound box abuts against the stop flange 190 and the sound box is then in position to be lifted past the cam plate 161 to thereby change the needle. When the arm is and centering pin K are lifted, the inner end of the track bar M is lifted, the track bar swinging upwardly about its pivoted outer end to an inclined position. This upward movement of the track bar first swings the shoe at about its pivot against the tension of the spring 191 and, since the sound box arm L is nearer the center of motion of the upwardly swinging track bar M than the arm is, the trip 195 carried by the arm is is raised higher than the latch 193 on the arm L and is lifted out of engagement with the lug 199 on the latch. The latter then re-engages the inner end of the shoe m and the sound box is moved outwardly, as described, over the record on the turn table. \Vhen this occurs, the weighted arm 202 which,

upon the inward ,shift of the slide 197 has been raised to the position shown in Fig. 10*,

by the pin 204, acts on this pin to move the slide 197 outwardly to the position shown in F ig. 10 The parts arevthen in position for the succeeding operation.

Normally, the machine alternately plays large and small records. To permit the playing of the same record two or more times in succession, means is provided for throwing the record shifter mechanism out of operation. For this purpose the inner end of the hub of the crank arm IL isslotted and engages a pin 210 (see Fig. 7) extending through the shaft h, A shifter arm 211 vertically pivoted on a lug 212 on the lower or looking bar 216 is pivoted between its ends to the arm 211 and its inner end is arranged to engage one 'or the other of two diametrically. arranged notches 217 in the inner flange 214 'of the hub. The other end -of the latch or locking bar 216 is arrangedbetween a pair of studs 218 on a lug 219 which projects from the fixed frame 1. In the normal position' shown in Fig. 7, the hub of the crank arm h engages the pin 210 to lock the crankarm to the. shaft h. In this position the inner'end of the latch bar 216 is disposed just inside the inner flange 214. At either end of the movement of the crank arm the lever 211. can be shifted to disengage the same from the pin 210. During this movement of the lever the outer end of the latch bar 216 is held against movement by the studs 218 so that its inner end is shifted farther than the adjacent end of the lever 211 and engages one or the other of the notches 217 in the inner flange 214:. In this way the crank arm h is disengaged from the shaft h and is held against rotation. In this condition the operation of the shaft it will shift the sound box and effect the operati'on of the needle changing mechanism as heretofore described but will not operate the slide or carriage G to change the records. When the movement of the shaft h is arrested, the crank arm can be shifted to again engage its notched hub withthe pin 210 to thereby re-connect the crank arm with the shaft- During this movement the inner end of the lock bar 216 is disengaged from the notched flange 214. It should benoted that the notched hub and the pin 210 and the notched flange 214 and the latch 216 form interlocking devices so arranged that the crank arm It can be disconnected from the shaft 71. and reconnected therewith only when the shaft, which makes a half revolution at each operation, is at the end of its movement in one or the other direction. The sound box and record shifter mechanisms must therefore always operate inproper timed relation and this relation between the two cannot be disarranged by themeans for throwing the record shifter mechanism into and out of operation.

A pair of indicator dials220 are mounted at the upper front portion of the frame and at opposite sides thereof. These dials are mounted on shafts 221 journalled in brackets 222 andeach dial is connected to one of the record magazines so as to rotate as the latter are raised and lowered. In the construction shown. the shafts 221 are provided with pulleys 223 over which extend cords 224 that are connected at their lower ends to the magazines. Springs 221 (see Fig. 1) coiled about the shafts 221 take up slack in the cords 223 and rotate the disks as the'maga- .zines are raised. The disks are, of course,

one of the records 6'' withdrawn from themagazine E and in position on the turn table. In this position the dial 220 of the magazine E indicates the record in playing position and the dial of the magazine E indicates the record which will be played at the next operation. To distinguish be- '-tween these indications a pair of indicator rods 226 are arranged to slide vertically through guide lugs 227 on the end portions of the frame 2. These rods extend upwardly behind the indicator dials 220 and their upper ends are bent forwardly and are providedwith depending indicating pointers 228. The lower ends of the rods 226 are connected to the outer ends of a pair of levers 229 which are pivoted on the ends of the front track bar 52. The inner ends be alternately engaged'by the cars 54 on the ends of the carriage G. When the latter is at the right-hand end of its movement as shown, the adjacent rod 226 is raised so that the pointer 228 at its upper end is not visible through the opening 225. But. the rod 226 at the opposite side of the machine and corresponding to the magazine E'- is lowered and its indicating pointer is exposed to the adjacent opening 225. The indicator mechanism thus clearly shows the record in playing position and also shows the next record to be played. It also indicates which magazine may be'adjusted to select the next record.

It is obvious that changes may be made without departure from the essentials of the invention as defined in the claims and that parts may be taken without the adoption of ers in timed relation, a motor for actuating said record rotating means,- cooperating members arranged to be engaged and disengaged to positively connect and disconnect said motor and said shaft, means automatically acting at the end of a reproduction of a record for engaging said members to initiate the operation of said shifters and means actuated'by said shaft for disengaging the same upon the complete operation of said shifters.

2. The combination with means'for rotating records in playing position and a cooperating reproducer, of a shifter for moving a. record out of playing position and another record into such position, a shifter mechanism for raising and moving the reproducer to starting position and lowering the same into engagement with the record in playing.

position, a common actuating shaftconnected to operate said record and reproducer shifters in timed relation, a. motor for actuating said record rotating means, cooperating members arranged to be engaged and disengaged to positively connect and disconnectsaid motor and said shaft, a controller normally holding said members disengaged,

trip mechanism automatically actuated at the end of a reproduction of a record for shifting said controller to engage said memhers and means actuated by said shaft for restoring said trip mechanism and said controller to normal.

3. The combination with means for rotating records in playing position and a 00- operating reproducer, of a shifter mecha nism for moving records into and out of playing position, a shifter mechanism for raising and moving the reproducer to starting position and lowering the same into engagement with the record, a. common actuating shaft connected to operate said record and reproducer shifter mechanisms in timed relation, a motorfor actuating said record rotating means, cooperating members for connecting said motor to said shaft, a latch controlling the engagementof said members, means for automatically tripping said latch at the end of a reproduction of a record to thereby shift said controller and engage said members, a second latch controlling the disengagement of said members and means actuated by said shaft for resetting said first latch and trip-ping said second latch. I

4. The combination with means for rotating records, in playing position and a cooperating reproducer, of a shifter mechanlsm for moving the records into and out of playing position, a shifter mechanism for raising and moving the reproducer to starting position and lower ng the same into engagement with the record, a common actuating shaft connected to operate said record and reproducer shifter mechanisms in timed relatlon, a motor for actuating said record rotating means, cooperatlng members for connecting said motor to said shaft, means for automatically engaging said members at the end 'of a reproduction of the record to throw said shifter mechanisms into operation, a. latch controlling the disengagement of said members, and means actuated by said shaft for automatically tripping said latch upon the complete operation of said shifter mechanisms.

5. In amultiple record talking machine,

the combination with means for rotating records in playing position and a cooperating reproducer, ofa shifter mechanism for moving the records into and out of playing position and for effecting the cooperation of said reproducer therewith, a latch, means controlled thereby for throwing said shifter I mechanism into operation, means for autoshifter mechanism for moving records out of and into playing positionflon said turn table, a shifter mechanism for raising said reproducer, moving the same to starting position and lowering it into engagement with the recordon said turn table, common driving means for said record and reproducer shifter mechanisms .cooperating members adapted to be engaged and disengaged to throw said driving means into and out of operation and means positively geared to said turn table drive mechanism for automatically engaging said members to thereby throw said shifter driving means into operation at the end of a. reproduction of a record.

7. In a multiple record talking machine, the combination of a horizontal turn table for supporting and rotating disk records, drive mechanism therefor, a reproducer, a shifter mechanism for moving records out of and into playing position on said turn table, a shifter mechanism for raising said reproducer, moving the same to starting position and lowering it into engagement with the record on said turn table, common drive means for said record and reproducer shifter mechanisms, means positively geared to said turn table drive mechanism. for throwing said shifter driving means into operation at the end of a reproduction of a record, and means automatically acting upon the engagement of the reproducer with the record for throwing said common shifter driving means out of operation.

8. In a multiple record'talking. machine, the combination with a support for rotating disk records, drive mechanism therefor, a cooperating reproducer, a shifter mechanism for moving disk records successively out of and into playing position on said sup port, a second shifter mechanism for changing the needle of said ieproducer and moving the same to starting position in engagement with the record on said support. and means positively geared to said drive mechanism and actuated at the end of a reproduction of a record-for throwing said shifter mechanism into operation.

9.v In a multiple record talking machine, the combination-with a support, for rotating disk records, drive mechanism therefor, a cooperating reproducer, a shifter mechanism for moving disk records successively out of and into playing position on said support, a second shifter mechanism ;for changing the needle of said reproducer and moving the same to starting position in engagement with the record on said support, means positively geared to said drive mechanism and actuated at the end of a reproduction of a record for throwing said shifter mechanisms into operation and means automatically acting upon the engagement of said reproducer with the record for throwing said shifter mechanisms out of operation.

10. In a multiple record talking machine, the combination of a horizontal turn table for rotating disk records, drive mechanism therefor, a cooperating reproducer, shifter mechanism for movin disk records out of andinto playing position on said turn table and for raising said reproducer and moving the same to starting'position in engagement with the record on said turn table, a motor 100 for said drive mechanism, cooperating members for connecting said motor to said shifter mechanism, means positively geared to said turn table drive mechanismand automaticall duction o a record for engaging said members to throw said shifter mechanism into operation, and means automatically actuated by said shifter'mechanism upon the engagement of said reproducer with the record for disengaging said members.

11. In a multiple record talking machine, the combination with reproducing mechanism comprising a horizontal turn table for rotating disk records and a cooperating sound box, of a disk record magazine vertically movable to bring the records therein opposite said turn table, shifter mechanism comprising means for raising and lowering said magazine step by step and for moving records between said magazme and said turn table, shifter mechanism for raising and moving said sound box and lowering the same into engagement with the record on said turn table and means for automatically actuating said reproducing means and said shifter mechanisms alternately and in cycle to reproduce successive recor s.

.12. In a multiple record talking machine,

the combination with reproducing mechaactuated-at the end of a repro- 105 l 

